- Xanthochromism
Xanthochromism (also called xanthochroism or xanthism) is a term that may be applied to birds, fish and other animals whose colouration is unusually yellow through an excess of yellow pigment, or possibly a loss of darker pigments that allows yellow pigment to be unusually dominant. It is often associated with the lack of usual red pigmentation and its replacement with yellow. The cause is usually genetic but may also be caused by diet. A
Cornell University survey of unusual-looking birds visiting feeders reported that 4% of such birds were described as xanthochromistic (compared with 76% albinistic).Birds exhibiting genetic xanthochromism, especially deliberately-bred mutations of several species of
parrot inaviculture , are termed ‘lutinos’. Wild birds in which xanthochromism has been recorded includeYellow Wagtail ,Wood Warbler ,Cape May Warbler ,Rose-breasted Grosbeak ,Evening Grosbeak ,Red-bellied Woodpecker ,Scarlet Tanager ,Northern Cardinal , andCrimson-breasted Shrike .References
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/Members/NewsNote_2003.pdf Cornell University Project Feeder Watch 2002-2003] Accessed 19 March 2007.
*cite journal |author=Helleiner CW |title=Xanthochroism in the Evening Grosbeak |journal=Canadian Field Naturalist |volume=93 |issue=1 |pages=66–7 |year=1979
*cite journal |author=Isted, Deloris |title=A xanthochroistic male Purple Finch |journal=Bulletin of the Oklahoma Ornithological Society |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=31 |year=1985
*cite journal |author=Schnell, Gary D; Caldwell, Larry D |title=Xanthochroism in a Cape May Warbler |journal=Auk |volume=83 |issue= |pages=667–8 |year=1966
*cite journal |author=Schwartz FJ |title=Xanthochromism in "Epinephelus drummondhayi" (Pisces: Serranidae) caught off North Carolina|journal=Northeast Gulf Science |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=62–4 |year=1978External links
* [http://www.birdersworld.com/brd/default.aspx?c=a&id=117 Birders’ World Magazine, August 2003]
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/attracting/challenges/strange_birds Strange birds at your feeder]
* [http://www.5050.co.za/inserts.asp?ID=6798 Yellow-breasted Crimson-breasted Shrike]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
